Rail-splicing structure



, space;

uppermost portion of the fillet 12. Accordingly, by reason of such disposition of said space, or ordinarily vacated area, it is man1- fest that same is not entered by the flanges of wheels passing over the rail. Therefore, to take advantage of this condition, the present joint bar is provided with a top formation of metal, designated as 17 in each of the figures -of the drawings, to extend into said Thus, as compared with the usual prior bar which terminates at its top substantially in or below the horizontal plane of the upper portion of the fillet 12, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. of the drawings, the present bar is of increased height with a consequent proportionate improvement in its physical properties, especially as regards the moment of inertia, and, therefore, same is of increased strength and stiffness, particularly as regards its capacity to sustain vertical loads, all without reduction in the wheel flange clearance above the top of the bar.

Moreover, by reason of the increased height obtained by the formation 17 of metal at the top of the bar, the head of the bar may be proportionately elevated and a greater' bolting surface area 18 obtained, particularly above the line of the bolt holes 19, to afford greater clearance below the head of the bar for the nuts and the nut locks of the usual joint bolts and for the tool employed to turn the nuts.

In the specific example of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the outer face of the 1,. splice bar is continuously flat as distinguished All from the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 wherein the head of the bar extends outwardly as at 2O beyond the bolting surface 18, which construction is permitted by reason of the increased strength and stiffness of the bar afforded by the increased height thereof.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 it will be noted that the portion of the head of the bar which extends outwardly beyond the plane of the substantially vertical upper portion of the side of the rail terminates at its top slightly above the horizontal plane of the uppermost portion of the head fillet 12 of the rail, or, in other words, substantially in a horizontal plane which would include the lower corner of a standard rail of equivalent weight as the rail R and indicated by the dotted lines 21, so that al i wheel flange clearance is provided above the As a matter of fact it is permissible to extend the top of the bar B, which projects outwardly beyond the plane of the substantially vertical side portion of the rail above the plane of the top of the bar illustrated in Fig. 4 and still provide ample wheel flange clearance above the bar, and this is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, the dotted lines 22 in these figures illustrating that, if found to be necessary or desirable, the said outwardly directed top portions of the bars may be formed to provide wheel flange clearance.

With particular reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be noted that the bar B may take loading engagement with the inclined face of the rail instead of with the head fillet of the rail as illustrated in the other figures of the drawings, and in this connection, the inclined face of the rail may be ronnded as shown to afi'ord an ideal section for rolling and to provide an eflicient fishing for the head of the splice bar. Furthermore, in this connection it is pointed out. that while the usual practice heretofore has been to construct the splice bar to take loading engagement with the head fillet 12 of the rail, this is by no means essential, since a bar having a head formation of metal to extend into or through the vacated space or area 16, in accordance with the present invention, may have fishing contact at its head with the rail in any way desired, either with the head fillet 12 or above or below said filler anywhere within a zone indicated for example between the lines aa and bb in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that the inclined side face 15'"L of the rail is of dished or concave construction. This serves to increase the area of the vacated space 16a to permit a larger formation of metal 17a on the head of thebar and at the same time provides ay greater surface area of fishing between the bar and the rail.

Fig. 7 illustrates that the bar B may be constructed to lie entirely inward of the vertical plane of the side of the rail head, in which connection it will be understood, of course, that the present bar may be of any cross-sectional shape desired, irrespective of the type of fishing contact it may have with the rail.

Fig. 8 illustrates the adaptability of the present joint structure to being insulated, a head piece of insulation 23 being interposed between the head of the bar and the rail and extending into the space 16, and a base piece of insulation 24 being interposed between the skilled in the art, and it will of course be fill understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, Without departing from the Spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claimen l claim head member provided with a formation of metal extending through the space or area vacated by the head truncations.

3. In a rail oint, the rail havinga head aptaoiiniating in cross sectional Shape an inverted truncated pyramid providing a space disposed inwardly of the vertical plane of the side of the rail and above the horizontal plane of the head fillet of the rail, and a splice bar provided at its top With a formation of metal extending into said space.

4. ln a rail joint, the rail having a head approximating in cross sectional shape an inverted truncated pyramid providing a space disposed inwardly of the vertical plane of the side of the rail and above the horizontal plane of the hea-d fillet of the rail, and a splice bar provided at its top with a formation of metal extending` through said space.

5. A rail splicing structure including` the rail having the bottom corners 0f its head truncated, a Connecting splice bar having hea-d and base fishing Contact With the rail, and a formation of metal on the head of the bar extending into the space 0r area vacated yby the truncations of the rail head.

In testimony whereof l hereunto afiX my' Signature.

MCLEOD THOMSON. 

